Schools in oil-rich Alberta to get solar panels

The provincial government in Alberta said it's responding to student interest by making funding available for solar panels at dozens of school projects. "We have heard directly from students from across Alberta and their message is clear -- they want us to be leaders on climate change," Minister of Education David Eggen said in a statement. The provincial government said total investments in solar power installations at 36 school projects will be at least $6.7 million. Costs vary by district and project. Alberta's government issued a request in early October for information on the potential costs and the best way forward toward using solar power for half of government operations. Three contracts to power government-owned buildings are on the books, but two of those are set to expire before the end of 2017. In September, a five-member task force was appointed by the provinc...